EPA backs wastewater plan

POST FALLS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce today that it supports Washington Ecology's pollution cleanup plan for the Spokane River, finally making the document official after 12 contentious years.

However, Idaho agencies that discharge treated wastewater into the river, including the cities of Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board, are considering whether to take the issue to court because they believe the standard is unfair and unachievable.

"(The plan) meets the Clean Water Act and, if implemented, meets the water quality standard for the states of Washington and Idaho," said Dave Croxton of the EPA. "Our goal was to make sure the treatment levels are attainable and there's equity in that distribution (between the two states) and we believe it meets both criteria."

The EPA will issue new discharge permits in Idaho. The proposed permits are expected to be available for public comment in August, Croxton said. The permits are expected to be issued in early 2011.

Idaho dischargers say EPA's decision was not a surprise because the agency has worked closely with Ecology during the process and earlier indicated it was in support of the plan.

The dischargers' appeal of the proposed standard was recently denied by Ecology.

"(EPA's decision) was to be expected in light of the findings by the dispute panel and the director of Ecology (Ted Sturdevant)," said Sid Fredrickson, Coeur d'Alene's wastewater superintendent. "The City Council will consider its options and decide how it wishes to proceed."

Post Falls Public Works Director Terry Werner said the dischargers will meet today to see if there is common ground on how to proceed.

"We're looking at everything before making a move," Werner said. "This is just another step in the march to the end."

The dischargers, through Washington district court, may ask for an injunction to delay the EPA from issuing a permit until their concerns are heard in court.

The phosphorous cleanup plan, called a TMDL (total maximum daily load), calls for a reduction in pollution from industrial and municipal pipes by approximately 80,000 pounds of phosphorus a year. Dischargers will have up to 10 years to comply with new discharge limits in the plan, with extension up to 20 years possible under some circumstances.

Phosphorus encourages algae growth, which then depletes oxygen from the water that fish need to live. Due to the sensitivity of the Spokane River system, the phosphorous limits for industrial and municipal discharges are among the most stringent in the country.

Idaho agencies say the plan will also stunt growth and could nearly double residential sewer rates due to costly plant upgrades.

Cities are already exploring new technologies to meet the new cleanup standard.